00:00Can you help clear up some confusion about SNAP benefits?
00:03Sure.
00:03The president just posted that they will only be given out when the radical left Democrats open the government and not before.
00:11But just yesterday, the administration said it would comply with a court order to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds by end of business day yesterday.
00:21So did the administration distribute that money or defy that court order?
00:26No. The administration is fully complying with the court order.
00:29I just spoke to the president about it.
00:31The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand it's going to take some time to receive this money because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position.
00:41We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, catastrophes, for war.
00:47And the president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future.
00:50And that's what he was referring to in his true social post.
00:53So the Department of Agriculture, as for the latest SNAP payment in the judge's order, put out guidance to states today on how to get that money to the recipients of SNAP.
01:04But it's going to take some time.
01:06The best way to get the full amount of SNAP benefits to those beneficiaries is for Democrats to reopen the government.
01:14So to anyone who is a SNAP beneficiary at home who needs that assistance.
01:18And the president was just saying this is for people who are truly needy, who need food, who need this assistance from the United States government.
01:26Democrats are holding it up and making it difficult for the administration to get those payments out the door.
01:32So if you are at home and you want your SNAP benefits, call the Democrats and tell them to reopen the government.
01:37Blocking that contingency fund for the future if this shutdown lingers on?
01:42Look, the president does not want to have to continue to dip into a contingency fund that doesn't even have enough money, by the way, to fund the full program.
01:49It takes $9 billion to get the full scale of the benefits out the door.
01:54This contingency fund only has about $5 billion in it.
01:56So, again, Democrats need to reopen the government so we can get these benefits out the door for people who truly need them.
02:02Kate.
02:02The president suggested that if Mondani wins that he would cut federal funding to New York.
02:07How much funding would be impacted?
02:09What would be impacted there?
02:10Well, look, we won't get ahead of the election results, nor will I speak to what the president may do in the future.
02:16We'll see how tonight goes, and then I'll let him speak on it further.
02:19And why did the administration exclude Democratic lawmakers?
02:21Last week there was a briefing about U.S. strikes on alleged drug trafficking votes.
02:26Why were those Democrats excluded?
02:27The administration has briefed Congress on these matters eight separate times, and Democrats have been included in those briefings.
02:35In fact, I know that Secretary Rubio will be on Capitol Hill tomorrow to brief the Gang of Twelve, which includes Democrats as well.
02:42So the president's made it very clear if senators want to understand the administration's operations against narco drug traffickers, we are very happy to speak with them about that, and we will continue to do so.
02:54But we've been incredibly transparent.
02:55As I said, there's been eight briefings on this topic, with the ninth coming tomorrow.
02:59With SNAP benefits, does he have any authorities or considering any authority there to release more funds to help people who are desperately needing these benefits?
03:08So, look, I think I've already answered the question on SNAP.
03:11We're complying with the court's order, and we're getting that partial payment out the door as much as we can and as quickly as we can.
03:18But it's going to take some time because, again, this is a prorated payment that we're tapping into a contingency fund for.
03:24The best way to get those payments out the door is for Democrats to reopen the government.
03:28But, yes, the president is in constant communication with his friends on Capitol Hill.
03:33They know, they call, he answers, he picks up the phone.
03:37He's a very transparent president in that way.
03:40And as soon as the Democrats pass the clean continuing resolution, President Trump will be here to sign it.
Be the first to comment